Improvement in lap-rings



' H. s. WOOD.

Patented May 28. I878.

Lap-Ring;

INVENTOR W 1? WWW ATTORNEYS.

NPETERS, PHOTD-LITIIOGRAPMER. WASHINGTON, 0 C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

HENRY S. WOOD, OF ROB ROY, ARKANSAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN LAP-RINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,273, dated'May 28, 1878 application filed March 26, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY S. WOOD, of

Rob Boy, in the county of Jefferson and State sponding parts.

This inventionrelates to an improved lapring, which is made without pivotal connection, and when in use locked in such a manner that the parts cannot disconnect themselves. The lap-ring combines great strength and a small amount of material with an easy operation and application, and avoids the mashing of the fingers in using the hammer and cold-chisel for opening the old style of lap-rings.

The invention consists of a lap-ring made of two sections, which are open at one side, and provided with grooved center-pieces at the opposite side, that fit into the openings, so as to firmly interlock when connected with each other.

Referring to the drawing, A A are the sections of my improved lap-ring, which are both made of exactly the same shape by being cast from the same pattern. Each section is open at the center at one side, and the ends at both sides of the openings are made to converge toward each other, and slightly recessed at the upper part, as-indicated at a, in Fig. 1, so as to form tongues that guide the sections in positions, one upon the other, in connection with corresponding guide-grooves b of the raised and solid center portions B of the sections. The solid raised portion B is equal in thickness to that of the ring itself, and is placed at the opposite side of each section, being symmetrical to and of corresponding size with the opening of the section. The solid portion has converging and grooved sides, for interlocking with the tongues of the second sections. 1

The sections of the lap-rin g are readily connected with each other by sliding one section over the other until the solid middle portions enter into and close the open portions of the sections. The tongues at the ends of the openportions are guided along the grooves of the raised portions, and retained by the converging sides and ends, forming thus a rigid connection of the sections.

The lap-ring is readily applied to the chain or other object bymeans of the side openings and then slid into position. The meeting-faces of the sections are cut at an inclination to the center plane of the link, in nearly diagonal direction to the link, so that the sections are thicker at the closed side and of less thickness at the open ends.

The sections are made of malleable cast-iron, and furnish alap ring of great strength and durability, that is readily connected and disconnected, and that forms, without any pivots, a perfect and reliable connection by the interlocking of the sections when in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A lap-ring made of two sections of like shape, divided on an inclined diagonal line, and having openings at one side, and solid guide portion at the opposite side, the ends of the sections and the solid portions being recessed and converging, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

. \lEIENRY S. WOOD. Witnesses: J. B. AVERY,

FELIX ROSENBERG. 

